Flights of Fantasy discussion

My husband, who has had a lifetime love of Science Fiction, sent this to me: The Best "Entry Level" Science Fiction Books to Convert Your Friends

Its not so much that I need to be "converted", it is more along the lines of while I do like SciFi, I am relatively a newcomer to the genre with little to no experience with its "history".

That aside, I thought the article would be a great way to open a discussion on the topic.

That was interesting - thanks for posting...

I hope Margaret Atwood doesn't have a stroke if she sees her book posted beside a Star Trek novel.

Is it wrong that I LOL'ed when they misspelled Charlaine Harris' name? I just find it humorous, considering that Harris can't consistently spell her own characters' names.

But, my amusement aside, half of the books mentioned in the latter part of that article are not SF, so I'm slightly baffled. If you're writing a column about good SF books to get people into reading the genre, shouldn't they be SF? I just feel like it's shoddy article writing/interviewing that all of these books are included in an article that they have nothing at all to do with. It's like they got these people and were like "What books would you recommend?" Forgetting that they actually want only SF books.

I've only read 3 of the recommended books: The Handmaid's Tale, The Sparrow, and Ender's Game (though I gave up on that one because I hated it so much. Do not recommend.)

I would recommend Leviathan Wakes (which I was sorry not to see on the list, though probably it would have seemed biased if Daniel Abraham rec'd it. LOL) and Oryx & Crake, and Dune, and Planet of the Apes, and Solaris.

Thanks for the link, Nyssa!

This is a really interesting article to me because I've been looking for the right science fiction novel to convert my mum. We've shared our love of books all of my life, and when I was in my late teens I convinced her to read fantasy even though she was very reluctant. She thought it sounded dumb and was convinced she'd hate it, whereas now it makes up about two thirds of what she reads (she's downstairs reading A Game of Thrones as we speak). She credits that to me having picked just the right books to introduce her to the genre.

So now she's convinced she'll hate sci-fi, but has agreed to give it a try, and I feel the pressure to pick JUST the right introductory books to make sure she loves it. So far my top contender is Iain Banks' Culture novels, probably my all-time favourite SF series, but I'm still agonising over it...

I would heartily recommend Ted Chiang. His work is a collection of short stories and novellas. He hasn't (to my knowledge) written a full length work as yet but has won numerous awards for his short work. I've always found them thought provoking and filled with great depth. I'm a huge fan!

Becky wrote: "I would recommend Leviathan Wakes (which I was sorry not to see on the list, though probably it would have seemed biased if Daniel Abraham rec'd it. LOL)"

Leviathan Wakes is on the list. :) Scalzi recommended it.

Titania wrote: "Becky wrote: "I would recommend Leviathan Wakes (which I was sorry not to see on the list, though probably it would have seemed biased if Daniel Abraham rec'd it. LOL)"

Leviathan Wakes is on the l..."

I agreed with him on LW.

But disagreed heartily on Bonesnoozer.

LOL.

Someday I have to read Bonesnoozer.

There's quite a few I disagree with, really... Like The Speed of Dark, which is not a terrible book (though I could write a bit of a rant on the ending), but I can't imagine trying to use it to introduce someone to sci-fi. It's barely sci-fi anyway. And if I paid to attend a course and the instructor used a Sookie book as an example of anything except How Not to Do Stuff, I think I'd want a refund.

I think the point is you can incorporate SciFi elements into a not-exclusively SciFi work. It's not about being a SciFi purist, but more about introducing SciFi concepts.

Titania wrote: "Becky wrote: "I would recommend Leviathan Wakes (which I was sorry not to see on the list, though probably it would have seemed biased if Daniel Abraham rec'd it. LOL)"

Leviathan Wakes is on the l..."

Oh, I must have missed it. Whoops! (Got distracted by all the fantasy, I guess. :P)

As for the Siookie novels ... I personally enjoyed the first 8 but was disappointed with 9. I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but it is on my list.

I love stories with multiple fantasy inspired beings.

Nyssa wrote: "I think the point is you can incorporate SciFi elements into a not-exclusively SciFi work. It's not about being a SciFi purist, but more about introducing SciFi concepts."

Sure -- I'm far from a genre purist, as I don't really like the concept of genres all that much at all -- but in the case of The Speed of Dark, the science is barely there. At all. It's almost entirely a character study about someone on the autistic spectrum, and the only thing that nudges it from plain litfic to the very fringes of sci-fi is in, like, the last 30 pages.

Which is fine, but makes it a very strange choice to introduce someone to sci-fi because I'd imagine they'd read 90% of the book wondering how on earth it had anything to do with sci-fi at all.

I don't think the trappings of sci-fi need to be emphasised heavily in an introductory work... actually, it's probably better that they're not, as I think most non-SF fans would relate better to an introductory work where the focus is on characterisation. But I feel like it's not really an introduction to anything at all if the science isn't somehow essential to the main theme(s) of the book.

The more I think about it, the more I think that I would definitely recommend Banks' Culture novels as an introductory SF work, if not necessarily the first one, because you could read them without knowing (or caring) a damn thing about science, and they're so rich in characterisation, but at the same time the entire social construct relies on the post-scarcity conditions brought about by the advanced level of technology.

The only thing that makes me hesitant to go ahead and push them on my mum is that book one... well, I wouldn't say it isn't very good, because I actually quite like it, but it's SO different from the rest of the series that it loses a lot of what makes the Culture books so iconic. And yet I don't really agree with the people who say to skip to book two because book one does provide a valuable perspective. :/

(Apologies for any wandering off on tangents I've done here, I am quite medicated.)

Titania wrote: "I don't think the trappings of sci-fi need to be emphasised heavily in an introductory work... actually, it's probably better that they're not, as I think most non-SF fans would relate better to an introductory work where the focus is on characterisation. But I feel like it's not really an introduction to anything at all if the science isn't somehow essential to the main theme(s) of the book."

I agree, but at the same time I think relateability is a very difficult issue in general. Take The Sparrow. When I read the book, it was on a very odd kind of random recommendation (long story) and so, while I liked it, I don't know if I would really consider it a good intro SF book. There are a lot of very... brutal themes, though the book itself is not difficult, it can be hard to relate to it because it's so alien culture oriented and it could alienate readers for other reasons. But it is a very good book.

Well, what books would yall recommend to get someone started reading Sci-Fi?

I don't read a lot of SF because I don't feel "smart enough." The things that they discuss (especially Hard SF) go right over my head. Sometimes my eyes even start to cross.

Right now, if I were to start a list of "Sci-Fi" for beginners it would be:

1 - The Ship Who Sang
2 - To Your Scattered Bodies Go
3 - Starship Troopers
4 - Perilous Dreams
5 - ??

Spin

Dawn wrote: "Spin"

Quite a few people have recommended that one to me. Really need to pick it up :)

An interesting list. Like others I don't think I would class a lot of this as "sci-fi". Probably "speculative fiction" would be a better description.

My number one recommendation for newbies is always Old Man's War.

I don't think I would necessarily recommend "classic" sci fi, simply because I think the writing isn't always the easiest to read, which can put people off.

I don't read much science fiction but when I do I mostly stick to the classics and my favorite is Asimov. I would recommend The Caves of Steel to a sci-fi newbie. Its about a human police officer and his robot partner. For a bit more of a challenge I would recommend his Foundation books.

I've read 'Spin' and liked it a lot. And the science isn't too much for any newbies.

I *should* probably read more sci-fi. The Culture series looks interesting.

I thought of Asimov too. He's very readable and enjoyable. I've read several of the Robot books.

My recommendations for newbies would be:


1. Young Miles
2. Old Man's War
3. Kiln People
4. Altered Carbon (with a sex and violence advisory warning)

You read Miles AND Old Man's War?! You're my kind of people! *high fives*

Hhmm, looking at my list now...I'm not sure.

I tried to get hubby to read PartnerShip and he was bored silly. I thought he'd like it cause he's a math person and there are equations. I was wrong.

IDK if I could give someone a good sf.

Is Ready Player One sci fi? I would think it is easily accessible to most people?

Laurel wrote: "You read Miles AND Old Man's War?! You're my kind of people! *high fives*"

Lol! Right back at ya!

I've started similar threads for Fantasy and Horror as well. Let the recommendations continue! :)

Laurel wrote: "Is Ready Player One sci fi? I would think it is easily accessible to most people?"

I definitely think RP1 is sci fi. Although I'm never sure about recommending it as a starter book unless the person is of an age where they are likely to get the references.

Dawn wrote: "Spin"

Yep. This one is kind of science heavy without feeling science heavy. I got my friend Liz to read it and she only reads Twilight type and biographies. She loved it. Said it was the best book she'd read in years. Everbody loves Spin!

Felina wrote: "Yep. This one is kind of science heavy without feeling science heavy. I got my friend Liz to read it and she only reads Twilight type and biographies. She loved it. Said it was the best book she'd read in years. Everbody loves Spin! "

I think I would have to read it before that statement could be valid.

Personally, I think Ender's Game is the best intro to sci-fi. It's not full of technobabble or deeply scientific elements and moves at a good rate. It embraces enough of the attributes of good sci-fi without falling into the pitfalls that many do.

I feel like just about anyone could get into Ender's Game and like it enough to move on to other titles in the genre.

Colleen wrote: "I think I would have to read it before that statement could be valid. "

Snicker


You're like the anti mikey.

Luke wrote: "Personally, I think Ender's Game is the best intro to sci-fi. It's not full of technobabble or deeply scientific elements and moves at a good rate. It embraces enough of the attributes of good sci-..."

I can't get down with children soldiers. Just...no. It's the reason I'd never read it - that plus Alvin the Maker. *shudder*

I disagree with Ender's Game as well. I just couldn't stand that book. Maybe I wasn't able to separate the author from it enough, but it was like every sentence I read had his intense hateful ugliness branded on it. Misogyny and racism and bullying, oh my. I couldn't even finish it.

I didn't know that he had such a stigma associated with him until just now.

Even still, Card remains one of my favorite sci-fi authors. I guess it's just one of those things that wont matter to you at all, or will matter a tremendous amount.

I also get the whole "child soldier" hang-ups. Personally, I think he could have retained a lot of the same elements if he changed all the ages to more traditional levels like 16 at the youngest and then 18+ for all the graduated students. That would make more sense for a military academy like that.

I wish I didn't know, honestly. I try to separate, but it's hard for me to do so. Still, I do know, so he'll never be an author I support or read again.

Becky wrote: "I wish I didn't know, honestly. I try to separate, but it's hard for me to do so. Still, I do know, so he'll never be an author I support or read again."


Hey, don't feel bad. I read Seventh Son and wrote Card off long before it came out that he was an asshat.

Yeah, that's difficult when he's such a big voice in the review community as well as the science fiction community. I have his book on how to write, and it's one of the most informative works that I have ever read in that department. It's frustrating when an author has to be controversial for things outside of his writing.

What I find interesting is that both him, and Brandon Sanderson are Latter Day Saints, but Sanderson willingly writes in homosexual characters (not many, but they are there). Even with this, Card seems to emphatically support most of Sanderson's work.

MrsJoseph (taking back my data & giving GR the middle finger) wrote: "Becky wrote: "Hey, don't feel bad. I read Seventh Son and wrote Card off long before it came out that he was an asshat..."

^This x 1000

What a mediocre book that was.

Mediocre would be an improvement.

I'd read his book Empire and it was pretty meh too, but then everyone raved about Ender's Game, so I thought I'd give it a try. I shouldn't have. LOL

I really should read Ready Player One.

I probably couldn't recommend a Sci-Fi work if it was standing in front of me...

Ender's Game actually shocked me, which is rare. Most of the time I can see the ending coming, but the ending of this one was so magnificent that it blew my mind. I can say that about maybe a dozen books that I've ever read, and that would be stretching it.

Speaking of Sci-Fi...

...I just read a review for Software. The review said it was pretty decent and easy to understand.

I liked RPO, but I thought that a certain aspect of the story ruined what was otherwise a great book. But that's a personal pet peeve, and I definitely think it's a good one to start with. It's fun and exciting and definitely steeped in gamephilia. I just made that word up.

Colleen wrote: "Felina wrote: "Yep. This one is kind of science heavy without feeling science heavy. I got my friend Liz to read it and she only reads Twilight type and biographies. She loved it. Said it was the b..."

Well you don't really like anything so I don't want you to test my theory. ;)

Becky wrote: "I liked RPO, but I thought that a certain aspect of the story ruined what was otherwise a great book. But that's a personal pet peeve, and I definitely think it's a good one to start with. It's fun..."

How personal of a peeve?

Uhh, the "FFS DOES EVERY BOOK HAVE TO GO THERE??" variety. (view spoiler)[Teen insta-love. It's enough to make me want to vet my books for characters who've reached their majority. (hide spoiler)]

And for Enders Game, I read it before I knew about Card and I thought it was boring. I saw the ending coming and then it came and then the book was still going. *sigh*

But in talking with people I'm finding that the people who read it as kids love it and the people who read it as adults not so much. Luke, when did you read it first?

And the child soldier doesn't bother me.

I read it first as an adult. I guess the book caught me off guard since I was starting to get frustrated with all the "training". I didn't get why he was still training so close to the end and so the ending caught me completely off guard.

It was probably that reason that I liked it so much. Other books in that genre that attempted the same type of ending, I saw coming by halfway through the book, so the fact that one caught me like that probably has a large part to do with why I like it so well.

Becky wrote: "Uhh, the "FFS DOES EVERY BOOK HAVE TO GO THERE??" variety. [spoilers removed]"

Ummm...dang.

Also a pet peeve.

Here's one I have regarding fortune tellers.

Ever notice that every book or movie that has a fortune teller draws the Death card? Every. Single. Time.

Fortune tellers are like prophesies and knaves (read as barbarian, thief, and all-around miscreant). Too overdone, and often poorly done at that.